The Shippensburg University field hockey team is in full preparation for the 2012 NCAA Division II Field Hockey Championships held this weekend from Lowell, Mass., that begin Friday at 1 p.m. when the No. 2 Raiders take on the No. 1-ranked Golden Rams of West Chester in a national semifinal showdown.

Tickets for Friday include entry to both matches and are $8 for adults, $4 for senior citizens and students with proper ID and $2 for children. Admission for Sunday's national championship game is $6 for adults, $3 for senior citizens and students with proper ID and $1 for children. All-session passes are $12.

Shippensburg and West Chester will be facing off in the NCAA tournament for the second consecutive season, as the Golden Rams won a 3-0 quarterfinal matchup last season at Robb Sports Complex. During the 2012 regular season, however, SU edged West Chester 3-0.  

The Raiders last traveled to Lowell in 2003, a year in which the team made its NCAA Division II tournament debut. SU fell that year in the NCAA semifinals to Bloomsburg, 3-0.

Shippensburg enters the tournament with the nation's best scoring and goals per game averages (3.95) in addition to the top save percentage for its goaltenders (.858). Senior goalkeeper Ciarra Delost leads the country with a .850 save percentage.

Junior Bre White, the 2012 PSAC Western Division Player of the Year and a two-time First Team All-American, is ranked eighth in the nation in both points and goals per game. White leads the Raiders with 17 goals and eight assists this season. Through 61 career games, White has scored 52 goals (sixth-most in SU history) and recorded 33 assists.

Senior midfielder Taylor Jones, like White, is a three-time PSAC Western Division First Team selection and a two-time First Team All-American. Jones has scored 25 goals and recorded 17 assists during her career while providing excellent leadership and a steadying defensive presence throughout the field.

The SU defense will be put to the test against the potent West Chester squad. Junior back Katie Shoop, a 2012 PSAC West First Teamer, will help anchor the line from the center with sophomore Second Team pick Ari Saytar and senior Amanda Burridge on her sides. Senior Kayla Harshman is the team's sturdy sweep who also achieved All-PSAC honors this season.

Senior Jamie Levy earned All-PSAC West Second Team honors for her work in the midfield this season while junior Lauren Taylor received the same recognition for her play up top as a forward.

Senior Emily Kohlbus is the team's main hitter on corners and has scored a career-high six goals this season. Another senior forward, Sam Langone, has been a leader and captain this season. She has chipped in with a career-high six assists and has 20 career goals – including the game winner in SU's 1-0 NCAA semifinal win over Bloomsburg in 2010.

The only four teams that have scored 70 or more goals this season are the same squads that have reached the semifinals: Shippensburg, West Chester, Merrimack and host UMass-Lowell.